Vietnam eVisa Checklist Before You Apply

Most Vietnam eVisa problems happen before payment: a misspelled passport name, the wrong entry port, a weak portrait photo, or a third-party website charging more than the official government fee.

TL;DR: Before applying for a Vietnam eVisa, confirm whether you need a visa, use the official portal at evisa.gov.vn, prepare a valid passport, a compliant portrait photo, travel dates, entry and exit ports, and a Vietnam stay address. Single-entry eVisa applications use an official fee of USD 25; multiple-entry applications use USD 50. Review every detail before payment because mistakes can require a new application.

Direct Answer: Vietnam eVisa pre-application checklist

Check before applying	What to prepare	Why it matters
Visa need	Passport nationality, trip length, destination	Some travelers may use visa exemption instead of eVisa
Official portal	evisa.gov.vn	Avoid copycat sites and unnecessary service fees
Passport details	Passport bio page, MRZ name order, passport number, expiry date	Name or number mistakes can cause delays or boarding issues
Photo and passport image	Portrait photo and passport bio page image	Weak images are common amendment reasons
Travel plan	Intended entry date, exit date, entry port, exit port, Vietnam address	eVisa validity and port choice must match the trip
Payment and follow-up	International payment card, application code, email	You need these to pay, check status, and download the PDF

1. Check whether you need an eVisa

Do not start with the form. Start with your passport and route.

Vietnam has visa exemption rules for some nationalities and special cases such as Phu Quoc. If your trip qualifies for visa-free entry, an eVisa may be unnecessary. If your stay, route, or passport nationality does not fit the exemption, prepare an eVisa application.

For the wider policy picture, read Vietnam visa exemption rules before paying any visa fee.

2. Use the official government portal

The official Vietnam eVisa portal is https://evisa.gov.vn/.

Search results often include commercial visa agencies that use official-looking wording or confusing domain names. Some charge a large service fee for a process that travelers can complete directly on the government portal.

Before entering passport information, check the address bar. The fee shown on the official portal should match the government eVisa type you choose, not a third-party service package.

3. Prepare passport information before opening the form

Have your physical passport in front of you. Do not copy passport details from an old email, a flight booking profile, or a previous visa.

Check these items first:

Full name order, including middle names, as shown in the passport machine-readable zone.
Passport number, issue date, and expiry date.
Date of birth, sex, and nationality.
A clear image of the passport bio page.
Enough passport validity for your intended travel.

If you prepare multiple travelers or often repeat official forms, the eVisaFlow Chrome extension can help keep passport information ready and reduce manual typing mistakes. Still review the official government page yourself before payment.

4. Prepare the portrait photo and passport image

Vietnam eVisa applications usually require both a passport bio page image and a portrait photo. The portrait photo is a frequent source of amendment requests.

Before uploading, check:

The portrait is recent, clear, and front-facing.
The background is plain and light.
Eyes are visible, with no glare from glasses.
The image is not cropped too tightly.
The file is readable and not compressed into a blurry image.

For detailed photo rules and amendment handling, use Vietnam eVisa photo requirements.

5. Decide your entry and exit ports before submission

Do not guess the port. Your eVisa is tied to official entry and exit choices shown in the form.

Before you apply, confirm:

Your first arrival point in Vietnam.
Whether you enter by air, land, or sea.
Your exit point if your route is already fixed.
Whether your chosen airport, land border, or seaport appears in the official system.

If you are unsure, compare the official list and your route with Vietnam eVisa entry ports and how to choose a Vietnam entry port.

6. Check dates, address, and contact details

Your intended entry date matters because eVisa validity is based on the dates you submit. Do not use a placeholder date if your flights are already fixed.

Prepare:

Intended entry date and expected exit date.
Temporary address in Vietnam, such as hotel or stay address.
Contact information that you can access during travel.
Email address used for application follow-up.

If your trip includes Ho Chi Minh City and the official site prompts for Pre-Arrival Information, follow the current official instruction and keep it separate from the eVisa itself. For the entry QR process, see Vietnam Pre-Arrival Declaration.

7. Review before payment

The last review matters more than speed. Once an application is approved, errors in the issued visa usually cannot be edited. A new application and another fee may be required.

Before payment, compare the form against your passport:

Full name and passport number.
Date of birth and nationality.
Visa type: single-entry or multiple-entry.
Intended entry date and permitted validity.
Entry and exit ports.
Email address and application contact details.

After approval, download the PDF from the official portal and verify the final document before travel. If you used an agency or received a suspicious PDF, read how to verify a Vietnam eVisa PDF.